Nani was sent off, following a tackle on Aston Villa midfielder Stiliyan Petrov.
Nani said: “I’m sorry I got sent off because I damaged the work of the team and we did not have a full team, didn’t win the game and didn’t go to the top of the table.
“I don’t think I deserved the red card because I was going for the ball and not the player. I didn’t mean to leave Petrov injured and anyone who knows me knows that I’m not a violent player.
“It’s disappointing because I was playing well, helping the team and we are going for the title. I can’t wait to come back.
“The manager has told me that bad tackles are punished heavily in England but I insist that I was going for the ball, not the player.”
